The next day.
Ivan returned to his senses from meditation, noticing a faint gray aura mixed into his spiritual power, minor yet stubborn. According to his estimate, it would likely take about ten days to cleanse it completely.
“Knock, knock, knock.”
The knocking sound echoed.
Carmel stood outside the door, smiling at Ivan inside.
“Ivan, good morning.”
“Good morning, please come in.”
“Mission accomplished, this is what you asked me to find,” said Carmel as he entered, making his purpose clear right away.
A sheepskin scroll, and several boxes.
The Ten Feathers Secret Medicine, Knight Class Universal Breathing Secret Medicinal Formula, with effects focused on agility, perfectly matched Ivan’s needs.
The boxes contained the ingredients for concocting the ‘Ten Feathers Secret Medicine,’ just enough to produce ten portions.
It was only the second day, and Ivan couldn’t help but marvel at Carmel’s efficiency.
“Carmel, the items are exactly what I wanted. I won’t say thank you too much. Count the ingredients as magic stones.”
“I’m glad you’re pleased, but let’s forget the magic stones. You know I’m not short of those. Consider it a little token from me, please don’t refuse.”
The two exchanged pleasantries for a few sentences; since the ingredients indeed weren’t worth much in terms of magic stones, and Carmel kept stressing it, Ivan decided not to dwell on it anymore.
After a few seconds, Carmel hesitated and said, “I heard from my sister that your mental power has been contaminated and needs time to clear, is that right?”
Ivan nodded, “Yes, it will still need ten days, and during this period, it’s not advisable to use mental power.”
It wasn’t that he couldn’t use it at all, but excessive use could interfere with the removal of the contaminated aura. Since returning from the Kanda magic stone mine, he had reduced his actions, and Heidi and others were aware of this.
“Ivan, during this idle period, would you like to visit my reading room?”
“Reading room?”
“Yes, it’s mine and my sister’s reading room, also a small private library. There are quite a few books and enchanted notes gifted by elders. If you’re willing to read, you’re bound to gain something.”
“Heidi doesn’t mind?” Ivan asked, surprised.
“She said she doesn’t mind at all.”
Carmel was sure his sister wouldn’t mind; it was her idea, after all.
In the sorcerer’s world, knowledge has its price, and the Carmel siblings were certainly aware of this. This was where Ivan hesitated, as one must not overstep their boundaries.
Carmel continued, “You’re at least a 3rd Class apprentice. So simply put, come if you want, and let’s not make a fuss if you don’t.”
It seemed a bit odd hearing this from Carmel, and Ivan stared at him blankly.
“That’s what sister said.”
“It’s a good thing, and if neither of you minds, why should I?”
Ivan was speechless, then finally agreed.
They decided to visit Carmel’s personal reading room the next day.
After seeing Carmel off, Ivan started thinking about what gift to bring, as he couldn’t just show up empty-handed, which was not his style.
His eyes landed on the medicinal recipe that Carmel had just brought, sparking an idea.
“As a knight’s potion, it shouldn’t be difficult to concoct.”
The Ten Feathers Secret Medicine was a potion used by knights, involving not much apothecary skill from an apprentice, indeed not requiring much mental power. His current condition allowed him to concoct it.
[Apothecary Skill Experience Point +1]
[Apothecary Skill: lv4(927/1000)]
With his current proficiency in apothecary, concocting the Ten Feathers Secret Medicine was a breeze.
The Ten Feathers Secret Medicine didn’t give many Experience Points, but it was better than nothing.
A new day began.
Ivan arrived at Castle Lidia as promised, and due to the academy’s barriers, the castle appeared even more magical.
He wasn’t surprised that there was a castle of considerable size within the academy grounds. The Lidia family had power and influence, so owning an estate wasn’t inconceivable. The question was more about whether the Lidia’s were willing.
Carmel was already waiting at the door.
Ivan didn’t look around much, and after entering the castle, followed Carmel directly to the so-called “reading room,” a semi-open small hall adjacent to a courtyard filled with bizarre flowers and exotic herbs.
“Sister isn’t here.”
“I’m not acquainted with her.”
“I know, I hope you can forgive her previous actions; my sister can indeed be overly capricious sometimes.”
As Carmel spoke, he glanced around and deliberately lowered his voice.
Seeing his serious demeanor, Ivan couldn’t help but nod in agreement.
“By the way, this is a gift.”
“May I open it?”
“Of course.”
Ivan handed him a box.
Carmel opened the box, revealing four rows of four potions. He took one out and sniffed it after removing the lid.
“This is Endurance Ginger Water, upper class, with a strange aroma. It seems even better than the usual upper-class Endurance Ginger Water. You wouldn’t have optimized it, did you?” Carmel, coming from a sorcerer family, could tell the unique qualities of the potion at a glance.
“Well observed. The other kind is the Ten Feathers Secret Medicine.” Ivan confirmed, a gift should never be ordinary. After pondering for a while, all he could think of was potions.
Previously, he had derived Ginger Summer Water from the basis of Endurance Ginger Water. His mastery and understanding of Endurance Ginger Water itself could be described as ‘perfected’. He had slightly optimized the Endurance Ginger Water, improving its effect by about twenty percent.
Do not underestimate that extra twenty percent; it’s like scoring 120 on a test out of 100.
A gift’s uniqueness is essential, and fortunately, he had plenty of leftover Endurance Ginger Water from his recent productions.
Seeing his effort in the gift, Carmel gratefully accepted it and then began to introduce his collection of books.
“Over here, we have books on Enchantment and runes, as well as those related to element particles, and over there some miscellaneous books, including various languages, Knight-related books, historical records of changes on Moon Pincer Peninsula, academy chronicles, sorcerer travelogues, astronomy observations, etc.”
“Feel free to read.”
Ivan certainly didn’t hold back.
The library lacked books on Enchantment and runes, nor did it have as comprehensive and profound a collection as this. He estimated it contained substantial practical knowledge; he started by picking up a book about the origins of knights.
“Is it really true that human breathing methods originated from the Centaur Race?”
“That seems to be the case, Knights are not named for their mounts but derived from the Centaur Race—a race with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a horse. Their brave warriors were known as ‘knights’, but regrettably, Centaurs are nomadic and have long since moved to an unknown place.”
“Do you think it’s possible to develop an Insect Breathing Method?”
“I’ve never considered that. It might be possible, though, maybe combining it with dissection studies. Are you very interested in the Knight’s Path?”
“Yes, I might even become a Legendary Knight.”
The atmosphere in the reading room was pleasant, and the two chatted while reading.
Hearing Ivan’s words, Carmel’s interest was piqued.
When Ivan returned to the reading room the next day, he discovered many new books about knights, not about breathing methods, but research records on breathing methods by sorcerers and apprentices, which clearly showed that the experiments were filled with a bloody scent.
Such content made Ivan somewhat uncomfortable.
Carmel, however, didn’t find it strange; or rather, he was used to it.
This was a difference in understanding between the two. Ivan clearly understood that Carmel’s mentality was the authentic sorcerer mentality, something he was lacking.